Madigan pitches candidacy to unions

The daughter of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, Illinois Sen. Lisa Madigan (D-Chicago), touted her platform for Illinois attorney general before union leaders at a Cliffbreakers luncheon Aug. 24.

Her luncheon coincided with stops at RiverBluff Nursing Home, a coffee/tea party at constituent Vivian Hickeys home and a reception for Illinois Rep. Chuck Jefferson (D-67). Jefferson announced his state representative candidacy that night at City Plaza, 555 N. Court St.

At Cliffbreakers, unions included United Auto Workers Local 592, the Illinois Federation of Teachers and Rockford United Labor AFL-CIO.

Northwestern Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council sponsored the event. Jeff Polsean, business administrator for the council, was pleased that many union leaders could get together to hear Madigan speak because busy schedules often interfere with such engagements. He added that she informed union leaders well. Polsean asked about Madigans efforts to implement prevailing wage. Madigan replied that its imperative that people make prevailing wage. Minimum wage isnt even poverty level, she said.

Don Markgraf, Community Action Programs (CAP) chairman for the UAW local, attended the event. He said he believes she will take care of the elderly, the less fortunate, the environment as attorney general.

Madigan said she wanted to speak in front of labor organization leaders because unions represent a significant group of people. They are a large part of the Democratic base.

Madigan touted her background to the leaders. Madigan graduated from Georgetown University. Afterward, she became a high school teacher in South Africa and later the assistant dean for Adult/Continuing Education at Wilbur Wright College in Chicago.

She has been a litigator and employment discrimination attorney for Sachnoff & Weaver, Ltd. She is a member of the Board of Governors of Loyola University Law School.

Presently in the General Assembly, she has been on the Rape Victim Advocates Leadership Committee, is the Democratic spokesman for the Senate Education Committee and has been named to the Governors Education Funding Advisory Board and the Universal Access to Preschool Task Force.